Shai Gilgeous-Alexander exploded for 50 points as the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder crushed the Phoenix Suns 140-109 on Wednesday night. The victory improved Oklahoma City to 40-9, further solidifying its hold on the top spot in the Western Conference.
Gilgeous-Alexander became just the ninth player in NBA history to notch at least 50 points three times in a seven-game span. He previously posted a career-high 54 points against Utah on Jan. 29 and dropped 52 at Golden State last week.
The Suns played without Kevin Durant, who sat out with a sprained left ankle. The 36-year-old forward remains 26 points away from reaching 30,000 career points. Without him, Phoenix struggled to keep pace and fell to 25-25 after suffering its third straight loss.
Oklahoma City trailed 63-61 at halftime despite Gilgeous-Alexander already having 28 points. The Thunder responded with a dominant third quarter, opening the second half on a 13-0 run to take control. A steal and two-handed dunk from Gilgeous-Alexander extended their lead to 81-65 midway through the period.
The All-NBA guard sealed his historic night early in the fourth quarter, knocking down a baseline jumper to secure his 50th point and push the Thunder’s lead to 114-84.
Bradley Beal led Phoenix with 25 points, while Devin Booker added 19 but struggled from the field, shooting just 3-of-9. Royce O’Neale contributed 18 points, knocking down six three-pointers, but the Suns’ 22 turnovers proved costly.
Oklahoma City capitalized on Phoenix’s mistakes, scoring 23 points off turnovers. The Thunder’s efficiency at the free-throw line also played a role, as they converted 24 of 27 attempts while shooting 51.0% from the field overall.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished 18-of-29 from the floor, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, and 11-of-12 at the line. He also added eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals in 34 minutes of action.
Jalen Williams contributed 13 points, Aaron Wiggins added 17, and Isaiah Joe chipped in 12 off the bench. Oklahoma City’s defense held Phoenix to just 16 points in the third quarter, the decisive stretch that put the game out of reach.
The Thunder also took care of the ball, committing just six turnovers, with two coming in the final minute. Their disciplined play contrasted sharply with the Suns’ sloppy execution, allowing them to extend their winning streak to six games.
With Durant sidelined, Booker was expected to carry the offensive load, but he struggled to assert himself. While he did convert 13-of-15 from the free-throw line, his inability to find his rhythm from the field prevented Phoenix from keeping pace.
